Funnel for liquids



Dec. 15, 1931. D. B. MILLER FUNNEL FOR LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 26, 1929l/w/s/vro/v. D. j. ML Her.

may 5.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFIE FUNNEL FOR LIQUIDSApplication filed December 26, 1929, Serial No. 416,569, andin GreatThis invention relates to improvements in filling funnels for liquids ofthe kind provided, inside the upper end of the outlet or neck of thefunnel, with a float-actuated signal for giving an indication when thehotwater bottle, oil lamp or other receptacle with which it is used isfull of liquid.

The present invention has more particular reference to funnel fitmentsof the above kind of the unshrouded type in which a signal and a floatare connected, respectively, to the up per and lower ends of a wirewhich is guided Within the neck of the funnel. Heretofore in I, thistype of fitment the wire has been mounted 13 so that it can move onlyvertically or axially in relation to the funnel, its movement beingcontrolled either by mounting it in a long guide sleeve or else byproviding an additional guide at the lower end of the float.

Now according to the present invention I provide a fitment adapted tobe'inserted in any shaped funnel for liquids and, in particular, inthose funnels the necks of which are tapering, said fitment to beaflixed in the funnel or inserted separately therein as a movablefitment for the purpose of indicating when receptacles for liquids arefull, and consisting of a support or cross-bar bracket with a guide-holetherein for the passage of "'a thin rod or wire connecting an indicator,and a narrow float, the said support being so constructed that theiii-poured liquid will impinge direct upon the said float and thediameter of the guide hole being large relatively to that of the rod orwire so that the said float will swing loose with the rod or wire towhich it is attached within the neck of the funnel.

In one convenient construction the improved fitment may consist of across-bar bracket, a short narrow tube or wire with a guide-hole, a thinrod or wire, a small indicator in the nature of a little flag orornament, and a narrow float. The said cross-bar bracket has in itscentre a hole over which hole the short narrow tube or wire with aide-hole is fixed to act as a guide to the iiger and give a hole to thefitment and enable it to be slipped in and out of the fun- I101. Thesaid rod or wire passes through Britain February 7, 1929..

the short tube or wire with a guide-hole-and? through the'hole inthesaid cross-bar bracket, the small indicator being at, the upperend ofthe rod or wire'and the narrow float being at the lower end of the rodor wire. The said hole in the cross-bar bracket is sufficiently large topermit the thin rod or wire which passes through it to swing loose, thusenabling the narrow float attached to the lower end of the rod'or wireto swing loosetoo, whilstthe saidtube' or wire witli'a guidehole, beingquite short and of the same diameteras the said hole in the centreof-the cross-bar, bracket, alsopermits of the looseswinging of therod-or wire and float. By-being narrow this short tube or wire with aguide-hole does not obstruct the liquidwhen it is poured into thefunneli The cross-barsof the said bracket are quite narrow and'thin toenable the iii-poured liquid to impinge direct on the float and passunimpeded'into-the funnelneck and receptacle. Onecross-barof the bracketis bent in a downward direction at its extremities to enable the fitmentto A grip the inner sides of: the upper end of' the narrow outlet orneck of the funnel from where it can be removed andreplaced as desired,or in which it can be thus fixed per manent'ly. When the said fitment isinp0-- sition the small indicator restsonthe top-of so the-short tube orwire with a guid'e-hole-immediately above the funnel-neck or outlet. Thesaidfloat by being narrow'can be insert-- ed in any shaped funnelforliqnids and,in particular, in those funnels the necks of which aretapered, the narrowness of the float also enables it to have freedomofaction with the rodor wire to which it is attached when swinging loosewithin the neck of the 4 funnel. The said indicator prevents thesaidrod' or wire from falling through the short tube or wire with aguide-holein the said cross-bar bracket.

In the functioning of the fitment thefunnel is placed in the openinginthe receptacle and the liquid is poured; into the funnel: Thisliquidimpingeson the float and, pushingit down, automatically adjustsit. To ascertain whenthe receptacle is full an occa sional pause inthepouring-in of theliquid is made when, if the liquid has risen sufiieterof the neck whereby it may rock freely ciently high in the receptacle tobegin to enter in the neck and greater than the diameter of thefunnel-neck, the float rises and slightly the guide ring whereby it mayabut the under pushes up the small indicator. When the side of the ring.5 liquid has penetrated sufliciently into the In witness whereof I havehereunto signed 7 funnel-neck from the inside of the receptacle my name.and a further pause in the pouring-in of the DOROTHY BLANCHE MILLER.liquid is made, the float agan rises and, by reason of its buoyancy andthe fact that it is 10 loose-swinging, shoots or bobs up and strikes 75the cross-barw bracket, which final rise at the float and indicatorsignifies that the receptacle is full.

The present invention is more particularly 7 1 described with referenceto the accompany- 80 ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the crossbar bracket portion of the fitment; and

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation show- 9; ing the fitment appliedto a funnel inserted 85 in the neck of a hot-water bottle.

As shown, the reference letter A indicates the funnel and F a hot-waterbottle. The cross-bar bracket D (Figure 1) has in its centre a hole Cover which is afiixed the short I 90 narrow tube T. The reference letterH indicates the thin rod or wire, whilst B indicates the indicatorwhich, when in its lowest position, rests on the top of the tube T justabove the outlet or neck of the funnel. E indicates 95 the narrow float.

The float E, being narrow and swinging loose, does not interfere withthe pouring-in of the liquid, but the funnel outlet could, if desired,be expanded to expedite the filling 100 of the receptacle. 7

What I claim is 1. An attachment for funnels comprising a bracke to fitin the funnel at the upper end 40 of the neck thereof, said bracketproviding '105 large open spaces for the flow of a liquid and providedat its center with a guide opening and a short tube around said opening,a float, an indicator, and a stem passing loosely through the centralguide opening in the 11o bracket whereby it may rock in said opening,the float being secured to the lower end of the stem to be housed in theneck of the funnel and rock freely therein, and the indicator beingsecured on the upper end of the stem 1 above the bracket.

2. An attachment for funnels comprising a bracket to flt in the funnelat the upper end of the neck thereof and consisting of wires disposed inangular relation, the outer ends of some of the wires being turneddownwardly and a guide ring connecting the inner ends of the wires, astem passing loosely v through the guide ring, an indicator on the 60upper end of the stem of greater diameter Q than the guide ring adaptedat'times to rest on the guide ring, and a float depending from the lowerend of the stemto be housed in the neck of the funnel, the diameter ofthe 5 float being appreciably less than the diaml3:

